The II Earl

Some texts are better left untouched, as I am sure that I’m not able to improve upon John Henry Newman’s words regarding what makes a true gentleman, from The Idea of a University (1852) . And so, with no commentary needed, we launch into the specific description of a gentleman, as written by Newman. This simple page containing Newman’s words regarding specific actions that refine a man, may require a number of visits before it is completely comprehended; but, the effort to learn and apply Newman’s recommendations can pay great dividends in the quest to develop the character of the man behind the clothes. WHAT IS A GENTLEMAN?  "It is almost a definition of a gentleman to say he is one who never inflicts pain. This description is both refined and, as far as it goes, accurate. He is mainly occupied in merely removing the obstacles which hinder the free and unembarrassed action of those about him; and he con...

Aside from using the search bar which is fine-tuned to pull up most any subject in menswear–we’ve prepared this series as a gentle guide for those taking their first steps into the world of personal elegance. To begin choosing your next suit, determine whether you prefer: DOUBLE BREASTED, SINGLE-BREASTED, OR THREE-PIECE SUIT ? Even if the classic two-piece, single breasted jacket has been ruling for the better part of the last two decades, since a few years, we are witnessing a bit of a stylistic renaissance in the world of refined men’s style. The double-breasted suit is coming back stronger than ever, and many waistcoats are finding their way into many-a-man’s wardrobe. In fact, the design possibilities have never been as large as they are today. This small revolution requires a more extensive knowledge of a few fundamental notions, if only to help you feel as though you’ve made the right suit choice. The Double-Breasted Suit For many, it is the quintessential elegant man’s...

"One has an obligation to celebrate the positive things and to provide people with whatever weapons one can against the negative things. We are lucky to be building on the achievements of our ancestors, and the important thing is to maintain them and to not throw them away" Sir Roger Scruton

A king may make a nobleman but he cannot make a Gentleman.   Edmund Burke was surely thinking along similar lines when he stated that the king may make a nobleman, ‘but he cannot make a gentleman’. And, when a notice was put up in a St James’s club that stated ‘Would the nobleman who has stolen my umbrella please return it’, the author pointed out, by way of an explanation, that it was a club for gentlemen and noblemen and that ‘a gentleman would never have stolen my umbrella’. ✠

Terrible fun, aren’t they, birthdays? The cake, the cards, the gifts – and how we do love being the centre of attention. There’s just one problem, though. Spend too long in the limelight and it starts to eat away at you, exposing your soul and the egotistical monster that lies within. Today, I’m turning 28. I admit, but one that belies my experience when it comes to the matter of growing old gracefully. So what, then, is the appropriate way for a grown man to behave on his birthday? That’s why I’ve decided to draw on the collective wisdom – to compile a handy gentleman’s guide to not screwing up your birthday. 01. It’s not all about you: The point is this: while it’s perfectly normal to attach a certain personal significance to your birthday, it’s worth keeping in mind that to everyone but you, it’s just another day. Hence our first rule of birthday etiquette: develop a sense of humility. 02. Peter Pan Syndrome Sure, a temporary relapse into infantilism can be...

  "If only for the sake of elegance I try to remain morally pure." ~ Marcel Proust